Visional Pop to Expand FriendsWithYou’s Happy World

Visional Pop has teamed up with artist duo Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III of FriendsWithYou (True and the Rainbow Kingdom) to grow their Happy World IP.

The collaboration will see the development of the whimsical world into an animated property for YouTube and a multi-category consumer products line for e-commerce and retail.

The Happy World IP is a vibrant, whimsical universe that aims to inspire love, a connection to ourselves and each other and to the living planet and its creatures. The upcoming animated property will follow the adventures of its characters and bring their narratives to life through a relaxing soundscape and storytelling.

FriendsWithYou’s artworks been exhibited in museums and public venues worldwide, and they were the featured artists in the 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In 2022, the City of Miami Beach acquired their 50-foot-tall steel sculpture Starchild as a permanent artwork. The duo are also the creators of the animated series True and the Rainbow Kingdom on Netflix.

“FriendsWithYou’s Happy World is a perfect embodiment of the creator-led, uplifting content we are passionate about at Visional Pop,” said Benjamin Grubbs, director at Visional Pop. “Samuel and Arturo have a proven ability to create characters and stories that resonate deeply with audiences. We are thrilled to partner with them to bring Happy World to a global community on YouTube and build a meaningful consumer products business that allows fans to bring the joy of the franchise into their everyday lives.”

“Our mission has always been to use our art as a tool to spread happiness and connection,” Borkson and Sandoval III said. “This partnership with Visional Pop is an incredible opportunity to amplify the message of Happy World and reach a broader audience than ever before. The Visional Pop team share our vision for creating positive content that can make a real difference, and we are excited to embark on this journey to bring Happy World to life in new and exciting ways, from animation to products that families can enjoy together.”